Love City Needs Love (USVI)

$4,220
of $10,000 goal

I have been fortunate to be able to call St. John in the United States Virgin Islands my home away from home. I have been visiting the islands of St. John and St. Thomas since I was a baby and have lived in St. John for extended periods of time—even homeschooled there for 6th and 8th grade. St. John and St. Thomas are the quintessential Caribbean islands with white sand beaches, coral-blue seas and a patchwork of homes clinging to the steep hillsides. But to me, St. John and St. Thomas is the people who live and work there, the lifetime friends I made, the newcomers and those who have lived there for generations.

On September 6, 2017, the USVI found itself in the path of the most powerful hurricane ever to hit the Caribbean, Hurricane Irma, and life there has been unalterably changed. I have seen the pictures of devastation and am grief stricken. Some of my friends have yet to hear from their families and friends that are still on the island. I cannot imagine how these tiny but full of life islands will begin to rebuild.

The people of St. John and St. Thomas are strong, resilient and determined. I know they will be able to rebuild but they will need lots of support and help. I am creating this Go Fund Me page in effort to support the efforts in rebuilding, planting trees and making the USVI beautiful again.

All donations will go to the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency.

Much love, Kate

Additional notes...

"Hi my name is Hannah Clements, I was born in St.Thomas in the U.S Virgin Islands and lived there my entire life up until a few week ago when I moved into college. Words can not describe the heartbreak I am feeling as I see videos and pictures of the place I call home. Thankfully I have the ability to say all of my family and friends have been counted for, they are alive. However, I can not say the same for our little islands. The first thing my dad said to me was, “ Hannah I walked out of our front door and it looks like a bomb went off, theres no trees, no leaves, nothing.” Hundreds of people have lost their roofs, thousands have been flooded and have water damage. As a community we need help, we can not rebuild on our own. With this go fund me account, I hope to raise money to donate the necessities, food, water, clothing, generators. Anything will help. Love, Hannah"

Message from Talisse Thompson "The Virgin Islands is a place I have been able to call home since I was 3 years old. Recently I moved for school but the connections I have with the people there are indescribably close. Both of my parents and my grandparents are currently there and the impacts of the hurricane have been truly devastating. Thankfully my parents were safe throughout the storm and still have a place to stay in. My best friend and her family, Maya, weren't so lucky. They have been left homeless by Irma's cruel wave of destruction, as has almost everyone on the island. The material items aren't what the people of the Virgin Islands care about but some necessities are needed for their safety, especially with Hurricane Jose coming very close by. They need help to get back on their feet. The island is coming together but they can't do it alone. Please help by donating, I know that it will be greatly appreciated and will be put to good use."